March
I flew above the convoy of people and animals, heading north through the desert. The area surrounding our camp had once belonged to some other place on Earth, but had been shuffled around along with the military base we had claimed.
Now, we were abandoning it, heading north to seek a better place to make our home. Or at least the people here would make it a home. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do long term, and where I would settle. I had to look for more survivors.
We only had a couple of wagons that were still useful, that had been repaired after their metal parts rusted. They were annoying to use in this terrain, but they were better than nothing. Especially since we had Saia and a few cows to drag them.
We still left a lot of resources behind. Salva, the old mechanic that had the skill that allowed him to repair anything technological for a short time had died in the horde attack, rendering the trucks into scrap. No one else had any skill that could do the same.
We were barely an hour into the march and I could already tell that we weren’t going to be making anywhere near the progress I had expected.
A shout drew my attention and I swerved in the air. There was a commotion near the back of the convoy and I dove down just as a massive centipede looking creature burst out of the sand.
“Glaive,” I said, and the two bracers on my arms flowed into my hands, transforming into a weapon. Since I didn’t carry my large and cumbersome serpent-tongue spear around when I was flying, I had Saia add a bit more mass to the suit she covered me with in shape of bracers—just enough that she could change in weapons for me as needed.
I crashed into the giant creature, swinging my glaive through its head and cutting it clean off. The people on the ground cheered, lowering their weapons. They’d been shooting at it and doing little damage to the large creature with their small caliber bullets.
Their cheering died as the ground rumbled and more animals broke through the sand. I moved immediately, taking to the air and flying at the closest one.
A group of warriors approached from the side, arriving to help, with Kai at their head. I left one of the centipedes alone for them and focused on killing the rest.
Once I was done, I turned my attention to Kai and her group, watching how she gave them orders and organized the fight. She was at the front, dashing in at the centipede as the others took shots at it from the side, distracting it.
One of the hunters took aim, his hunting rifle glowing faintly, then fired a bullet that exploded on impact against the side of the centipede’s head, stunning it. He was one of the few that had advanced his Mask. It was his First Investment skill, a powerful one at that.
Kai took advantage and rushed the creature. She jumped and punched with her brass knuckles. The strike shattered the creature’s carapace, her skill—[Shattering Blow]—powerful enough to do a lot of damage.
The centipede fell to the ground, dead.
I was impressed. Kai met my eyes over the dead creature and I gave her a nod, then flew off, looking for more threats.
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A week, and we were barely a third of the way to the coast. I had underestimated the difficulty. We tried to use roads as much as possible, but many had been reclaimed by nature, the asphalt cracked and plants growing out of them.
The pace we moved at was impacted by various factors. The terrain, for sure, we had to cut our way through so much nature. The roads were not just broken, but pieces of them were shifted. We could be following a highway and then suddenly end up in a desert that stretched for a kilometer ahead, or a lake that we had to go around, or a forest that we had to trek through. The wagons could barely go over what was left of the roads, let alone places where there were none.
Then there were the people. Most that were at camp were capable, no one infirm survived for long after the Grand Spell arrived. But, we still had older people, who couldn’t keep up the pace most of the others could.
And… we’ve had injuries, simple accidents. Kids rode in the wagons, but adding the injured on there slowed us down further.
Then there were the attacks by beasts, the hunting for food as our supplies dwindled, having to go on water runs. All of it compounded together to make our trip a lot longer than I had intended it to be.
I was exhausted too. Constantly flying around the group, looking for threats, searching for food and water. I’ve started to sleep again, once every two or three days, and never more than a couple of hours, but it was draining.
I was hungry, and the beast blood was no longer as effective as staving off hunger as it once was. The Investment difference was too low, and… it lacked something that human blood didn’t.
Which was why, I gathered the leaders in one of the tents that were set up for the night.
Catalina, Diego, Max, Kai, and Carlito, with Father Rodriguez, stood around a table as I looked at them, trying to figure out how to say what I had to say.
“I need blood,” I said finally, deciding that directness and honesty were most in line with the Heart of Azure and Scarlet. Lies and deceptions incurred a debt.
Catalina and Diego paled, while the rest looked at me quizzically.
It was Max that spoke. “Human blood, I assume?”
I nodded.
“I thought that you could live on animal blood?” Catalina asked, one hand clasped shakily around her throat.
“I can survive on it, but not for long term, and…” I paused, trying to figure out how to frame it without revealing too much of the things I didn’t want to share yet. “Ever since I grew in power, the difference between my Investment and theirs makes what I take less effective. Human blood is still my primary source of sustenance. I could usually survive without it for longer, but I’ve been exhausting myself, vampires aren’t good at such prolonged exertion.”
Catalina swallowed, and I looked around.
“I wouldn’t need much, a few glasses worth a day.”
It was Father Sergio who spoke up next.
“I can take care of this.”
I turned and meet his eyes. “You can?”
He nodded. “Of course, people would be happy to donate blood if you need it, especially as you don’t need much. You saved our lives, and they can see you flying above us as a guardian angel day in and day out. I shall organize it, and ask for donations, I have no doubt that we’ll have plenty people offer their lifeblood for you.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it. I didn’t know what to say to that. I was aware how some people among the survivors saw me, and I didn’t really do much to dissuade them. I felt uncomfortable next to them, I could feel their faith, their worship. It was doing something that I didn’t understand, so I’ve tried to keep my distance.
I nodded, no matter what, in the end I still needed blood. “Do that, gather let’s say three cups worth every day, keep the donated blood in separate containers. I’ll collect them at the end of the day.”
“It shall be so,” Father Sergio said with far more deference than I expected, but I didn’t say anything.
“Do you have any concerns?” I asked the rest.
They shook their heads.
“We always knew what you are,” Max said. “We trust you enough by now, to do anything else would be ludicrous. And if people want to donate, I see no issue with it.”
“Good,” I said, then dismissed them. They had to get their rest, and I had some more patrolling to do.
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I walked over to the small tent that the priest raised alone every day we stopped to rest. There were people around it, hands joined in prayer. I didn’t intrude on their ritual. I understood that it was what made them feel safe. I walked through them without making a sound.
I entered the tent and found the priest with three people inside. I had heard their breathing, of course, but I didn’t expect them to actually be present. Two of them were women, one a middle aged matron with a kind smile, and the other that looked like a younger version of her. The man was the same age as the older woman, and I could see that the younger woman and he shared the same eyes. A family then.
I gave Father Sergio a long look, trying to figure out what his plan was, because there was definitely something.
“Welcome,” he said with a smile on his face. On the table were gourds, I could smell the blood inside of them already, as well as the one clinging to the three people. They all had their arms bandaged, and I’ve noticed that the cuts they made to drain the blood were all on the outside of their forearms. Which was smart, I always hated the movies where the characters cut open their palms. It was stupid beyond compare, making a wound there would only make using that hand far harder while it healed.
“I’ve done as you asked,” Father Sergio continued. “The offerings are separated in their own vessels.”
I narrowed my eyes at his verbiage, but didn’t say anything.
He picked up the first one and offered it to me. I walked up, glancing at the three.
“What are your names?” I asked.
It was the young woman that answered. “I’m Mona Sanchez, these are my parents, Alba and Martin Sanchez.”
“Thank you for your gift,” I told them and inclined my head.
“Of course,” she said with a small shaky smile on her face. “You’ve been our guardian angel. You saved my family when you arrived during the… that night,” she said slowly.
Stolen novel; please report.
I’ve saved them all, but I could tell that she meant something more. She or someone from her family had to have been more directly saved by my actions. I didn’t remember, but I had moved around camp a lot, killing beasts that had gotten in.
I didn’t say that, or ask what happened, I didn’t want to make them feel like I didn’t care.
“You should not feel obligated—” I started, but was almost immediately interrupted by the girl’s mother.
“We didn’t, we don’t, feel obligated, that is,” she said in a raspy voice, impacted by all the smoke that night probably. “When the Father asked for volunteers to help you, we stepped forward first. We are a community, and we help each other. You’ve given much of yourself to help us, to keep us safe. We, everyone, sees that. We see you flying above us every day, and we know your effort. You’re our Dark Angel. We’ll always help you.”
I didn’t quite know how to respond, so I didn’t. I just inclined my head then walked over and took the first gourd. I looked at the three of them and the priest. They didn’t seem to be planning on leaving. Initially I planned on taking the blood and drinking it in the privacy of my own tent, but now… I felt like there was an expectation, a debt, despite their words.
I opened the first gourd and drank. As I had asked, there wasn’t a lot of blood, I downed it in three gulps. It quenched my thirst, but it wasn’t enough, I knew it immediately. I moved to the next, drinking it in the same manner, and then the last. Once I was done, I closed my eyes, feeling the thirst feeding. The tiredness that had seemed to cling to my bones slowly started to fade. I hadn’t realized how much I needed human blood until now.
There was something within that made it just greater, more nourishing for a vampire.
“Once more, thank you for the gift of your blood,” I said, then turned and left as they bowed. With my last glance I saw the priests smile, and didn’t like it at all.
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The next few days were a blur of travel and vigilance. The terrain continued to be challenging, the landscape a patchwork of terrains and remnants of civilization. Some towns were completely overgrown, while others remained pristine, yet empty. We found no survivors, the only thing we encountered was more beasts. Some familiar, some terrifyingly new. Myself and the fighters led by Kai fought them all, protecting the convoy.
The donated blood helped. It wasn't the same as feeding directly, but it was enough to keep the hunger at bay and my strength replenished. I felt a strange connection to the people who offered their blood, a sense of responsibility that went beyond mere protection. Their faith. Father Sergio had made the donation of the blood into a ritual.
The way he spoke to me and about me was uncomfortable, as if I was a literal angel. I had thought that it was just hyperbole, a way to connect and give the people hope, but it was spreading and becoming more than that. I could see it in the peoples eyes.
A part of me liked it.
It felt empowering to have people look at you and see something greater than themselves. I wondered if this was what old vampires felt like, back in the ages when they were venerated as gods. It took me a while, but I realized that there was a good reason why that was.
There were also a lot of uncomfortable questions that I had now, about religion and history and what was myth, legend, or truth. Vampires have been around for tens of thousands of years. And stories evolved, changed over time. The old gods could’ve just been others of my kind or shifters.
I didn’t dwell on such thoughts too much. I didn’t have the time. Getting the people to the coast was my only goal.
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What was supposed to be a trip of several days at most ended up being three weeks. The weather grew colder, the sea breeze chilled the nights. We encountered fewer beasts, but those we did encounter were larger, more powerful. Anything lesser had been driven out by Cartagena’s plant organism.
The convoy adapted. Hunters honed their skills, fighters trained their bodies and minds, and got better at keeping the rest safe. Children learned to scavenge and fight alongside their parents. Father Sergio's sermons became a source of strength and unity, his words weaving a tapestry of faith and resilience.
We had some deaths too. Those older, injured who couldn’t recover, others fell in combat.
I, too, adapted. I learned to conserve my energy better, to fight smarter, not harder. I explored my powers, discovering my limits and practiced using my Mask. It was, in many ways, a lot calmer period of time than the challenge. I had more time to think, to plan.
Max and Anna continued to work on Masks, trying to help others gain more Investment. And it seemed like it worked, a lot of people started approaching the first Investment, with many of them getting over it. A few even reached close to the Second Investment, like Kai and Carlito.
The people continued to offer their blood daily, and Father Sergio encouraged a ritual that had become a symbol of sorts. I accepted it gratefully, though I did feel my debt increase with every drop of blood I took. I’ve asked it of them for nourishment, but it was also true that I gained more from it. Every day, more doors were added to my soul space. More potential power.
I was aware of the debt, even if they were not, but protecting them and intending on giving them a new home felt like enough that I didn’t feel guilt.
I guided them across what had become a wild land, unlike anything that they were used to from their life before.
I gained a single Carving in my Leader Ornament, but no skill. The gain at least told me that I was on the right track.
I led the convoy to the location I’d chosen, it was near Cartagena, just twenty kilometers away. We had to pass close to the city, to get to it, but Saia had assured me that the plant’s influence didn’t extend that far from the city. I chose a small peninsula just south of the city. Well, just west now as the land had moved.
It was right on the coast, a resort town called Porto Nao. I had already scouted it out during my first trip, but also when we were a day out. It was abandoned, nothing lived there. The nature had reclaimed it, but the core of the buildings remained. Eventually, we would probably be able to reclaim it ourselves.
I was going to place the town on the coast. The reasons for it were many. First, the coast was now on a different sea, one that was in the center of the continent, not close to any ocean, and unlikely to have large storms. With it being a peninsula, the only avenue of attack by land could come from a single direction, and that led right next to Cartagena, which I was counting on to act as a deterrent. And since I haven’t seen anything other than small birds next to the city I felt it was the safest place.
I’ve flown over the peninsula and located several smaller rifts, even entered and found that one could easily be farmed for food and resources.
We cut through the foliage and finally reached the water. The convoy settled nearby, and I gathered the leaders on the beach, then pulled out my town creation item.
“How does this work exactly? It’s just going to magic up a town for us?” Carlito asked.
I shrugged. “I have no idea buddy,” I was honestly quite excited to see what would happen.
“Uh,” Max chimed in. “Should we all just be standing here? Is it dangerous.”
I didn’t know, though I didn’t think that the Grand Spell wanted to kill us.
“I don’t even know the range of it, but I doubt it will be dangerous for us.”
I’ve picked a heavily wooded area along the coast. The item mentioned wooden structures, but I didn’t know if it would use resources on hand or just magic everything up. I figured that it couldn’t hurt to have materials on hand, make it easier for the Grand Spell.
“Don’t be a baby,” Carlito nudged Max, who grimaced.
“It will be as God wills,” Father Sergio said and both Catalina and Diego nodded. I had seen them attending his sermons, and their fear toward me had slightly abated.
I guess that being exposed to me in my winged form had done wonders, even if it was not in the way I had expected. My hearing was good enough to hear the whispers, I knew what they called me.
Kai stood next to me, stoic and alert, the only one that didn’t seem bothered at all about what was about to happen.
I decided not to prolong this any longer, I pressed the lever and placed the item on the ground.
It unraveled, then a light fell on top of us from the sky. I heard exclamations of surprise, even a scream, but it was all drowned out by a thunderous roar like a mountain falling down.
I couldn’t see, nor could I hear anything but that loud noise.
It didn’t last long, and it vanished almost as fast as it arrived. I blinked, my eyes recovering faster than those of the humans around me.
What was before just a forested area, was transformed.
I took to the air and observed it from above. The town clung to the rugged coastline like a barnacle to a ship’s hull. Encircled by a sturdy palisade of sharpened logs, the town was a patchwork of around a few hundred buildings, all constructed from deep brown timber. The structures leaned against each other, in a charmingly haphazard fashion, the roofs a tapestry of mossy greens.
Narrow cobbled stone streets wound between them, leading to four small squares where I could see buildings surrounding them with open front areas and counters, with raised solid wood screens that could be dropped. Like small shops.
The heart of the town though, was the harbor. A long, wooden pier jutted out into the sea, lined with six fishing boats, four smaller and two mid sized. Nets hung stretched along the dock, ready to be picked up and used.
The dominating feature was a sturdy keep, a three-story structure of thick timber and stone foundation that was near the center of the town. Its windows, small and deeply set, offered a panoramic view of the harbor and the sea, but also looked out over the town and the wild, beyond the walls.
Another building caught my attention by its shape, as it clearly resembled a human church. Most of the other buildings were made in a strange style, with single sided slanted roofs and more rounded and taller doors. This building though, was clearly influenced by human architecture.
There were wells scattered around the town, a bit further away from the coast.
Further inland, at the edge of the town, near one corner of the walls, was a cluster of outhouses. I had seen only a few in the city, behind a couple of the larger buildings. It occurred to me just then that I hadn’t given much thought to all the things that we’ve come to take for granted in our world.
Another large building nearby drew my attention, and I flew down to investigate. It turned out that the large tiled roof building was a bathhouse, filled with pools of water and simple hand operated pumps.
I walked out, noticing the others exploring the town on foot. I took to the air again, and saw that the convoy had started their approach, a few of them heading toward a large gate that led into the town.
I saw something sprawled beyond the palisade, and flew over to discover what looked like a simple lumber yard. Open storage areas, with just simple roof coverings were arranged on one side, while a large area was clear out for work. There were even axes and other tools in one of the open shacks.
Despite its modest size, the town was more than I had expected. This was going to be a good home base.
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The first few days were filled with Saia and me flying to Cartagena on supply runs. Medicine, food, and even simple things like pillows and mattresses were ferried to the town.
It had of course come empty of anything but the barest things necessary. There was no furniture, no decorations, nothing.
I put Catalina and Diego in charge of settling the people in, deciding who would get which building and so on. The keep was used as the central hub, and I’ve also claimed the top floor as my home. Not that I had much need of it, but the symbolism mattered.
Few people among the survivors had knowledge about fishing, so boats had started heading out and catching fish.
I’ve put Kai and a few other warriors to work exploring the rest of the small peninsula and clearing rifts.
Father Sergio occupied the church, of course, and started holding daily service. I was yet to attend, partly because I was busy and partly because I was afraid of what I would hear.
Soon the end of the month approached, and I sat, worried about the next challenge. I had been itching to go north and try to find Aurora, but since the trip to the coast with the survivors took too long I decided to wait and see if we could meet in the challenge. Perhaps she had moved already, and I didn’t want to waste time looking for her.
Today though, I was flying across the sea, as I wanted to see what there was on the other side. Perhaps there were more survivors over there. From what my sire said, the other coast was occupied by the Sahara.
It was a harsh environment, but not densely populated. Which meant that less rifts had probably opened up, perhaps less danger too. There weren’t a lot big predators in the desert that could mutate.
I flew across in about the same time it had taken me to reach the coast from the military camp. Which meant that the sea was about 200 km across.
I flew over the coast, looking for any signs of… well, anything. It didn’t take me long to see a large city in the distance. As I approached, I found what I had come to expect. Rifts, and beasts fighting for supremacy of the city. I flew above, a few mutated birds that I didn’t recognize attempted to fly at me, but quickly learned that I wasn’t prey.
I found writing that had survived the catastrophe that had hit the city, and learned that the city was named Dakar, and if my knowledge of world flags was correct, it was in Senegal.
I didn’t stay too long. It was unlikely that there were any humans still alive in the city. I continued on, flying along the coast.
Then decided to head a bit more inland, as there was nothing on the coast, but depressing remnants of civilization torn down by beasts.
I was over the desert now, there was only a sea of sand for as far as the eyes could see. I saw no signs of anything of interest, and was about to turn away when I noticed something in the distance. It looked like an oasis, a road leading to it and a few buildings, but if I wasn’t mistaken, I could also see movement.
I slowed down and headed for the oasis.
Once I arrived, I saw a battle taking place. A large shifter with sandy fur was fighting beast that looked like mutated hyenas, an entire pack of them. The beasts were larger, had spikes growing out of their backs, but the shifter was stronger and faster than them, I could tell immediately.
Yet, somehow, he was losing. It didn’t take long for me to realize that he was standing in place and fighting the beasts instead of moving around, taking advantage of his speed and strength. He left himself open for the beasts to snip at his back.
I frowned, then his actions became clear to me. He was protecting something in the rundown building.
I debated flying down and helping, my track record with the shifters wasn’t great, but I didn’t have any issues with them. Hell, some of my best trainers were shifters, and I had grown up around them. Granted, the ones I knew had served a vampire and were because of that shunned by the rest of their kind, but still.
I took a deep breath and made a decision.